While the New Orleans Saints enter Super Bowl XLIV playing for the soul of their city, their favored opponent, Indianapolis, is trying to cement itself as one of the era's top teams and add to the legacy of its outstanding quarterback, Peyton Manning.
The battle for NFL supremacy takes place Feb. 7 in Miami between the league's two top-seeded teams, a rarity in the all-too-unpredictable playoff battle each season but certainly good news for the NFL, thanks to the fascinating storylines the Saints and Colts bring with them.
For some, the fact that either team would be playing for the Lombardi Trophy is surprising, given the way each slid into the postseason. Indy's late-year stagger, however, was self-induced. Not wanting to risk injury to his top players, including Manning, Colts coach Jim Caldwell threw on the retro-rockets in Indianapolis' final two games, throwing away a shot at perfection, to the dismay of many fans and media members.
In the postseason, Manning was outstanding, throwing for 246 yards and two scores in a 20-3 dismantling of Baltimore and overwhelming the Jets with 377 yards and three touchdowns in Indy's 30-17 AFC title game win. It is Manning who holds the key to the Colts' Super success, since Indianapolis' ground game, which ranked dead last during the regular season, is a complementary part. The quarterback's sturdy right arm and lightning-fast mind are the main ingredients of the attack. The good news for Manning and the Colts is that New Orleans finished 26th in the league in pass defense and would appear vulnerable to an air assault.
The Saints must prepare for a variety of Colts weapons, since Manning has proven he can connect with four different targets, with youngsters Austin Collie and Pierre Garcon joining veteran Reggie Wayne on the outside, and reliable tight end Dallas Clark working the middle of the field. And lest you think the Colts are merely interested in winning shootouts, consider they limited Baltimore to just 276 total yards and held the vaunted Jets running attack to 86 yards and actually won the time-of-possession battle.
The Saints won't be so easy to contain, thanks largely to quarterback Drew Brees, who triggered the league's top offense in '09. Even though the Saints staggered home with three straight losses - only one due to precautionary moves by coach Sean Payton to avoid injuries - they showed how potent they could be during a divisional playoff rout of Arizona and their overtime NFC title game triumph over Minnesota.
Brees is the key to it all. The NFL's top-rated passer threw for 4,388 yards and a league-best 34 touchdowns, often blitzing rivals with quick scoring drives that featured precision and too many weapons to control. Brees hooked up with receivers Marques Colston and Devery Henderson and tight end Jeremy Shockey to overpower enemy secondaries. Multiple threat Reggie Bush provided more headaches with his talents in the rushing, passing and return games.
Though the Saints' defense struggled against the pass and finished 25th in total yards allowed, they showed substantial toughness in the win over the Vikings, repeatedly hitting Minnesota QB Brett Favre and forcing five turnovers. If New Orleans is to win, it must put that same kind of heat on Manning, in order to prevent him from getting too comfortable. Meanwhile, Brees must apply pressure by putting up early points, in order to force the Colts to lose patience.
At stake is more than just a championship. The Saints can bring further hope and excitement to a city still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Indianapolis, meanwhile, can win its second Super Bowl in four years, and Manning can cement his greatness with yet another championship.
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